Perception and reality of women journalists in India

Abstract

Mass media is a very efficient medium to educate and make viewpoints of people newlineregarding social, political and economic social change. News media is one of the most newlinepowerful mediums among all other mediums of mass media. In news media, newlinejournalists are generally known as the face of news media. Women in journalism have newlinemade a notable mark in the previously known male-dominated profession. newlineIn the research, the study of women journalists was done as per the area (urban/rural) newlinein which they reside. Both urban and rural women journalists may have different newlineliving and working conditions in the news media profession. The aim of research was newlineto study the reality along with the perception of the women journalists living in the newlineurban areas as well as in the rural areas in our country. In the research, it was found newlinethat both urban as well as rural women journalists suffer from unsatisfactory newlineprofessional, social and economic lives. newlineThe significance of our research also lies in identifying the differences between the newlineperception and reality of the professional, economic and social lives of the female newlinejournalists in India. To study these differences, various tests such as the Chi-Square newlinetest, Spearman correlation test and Mann Whitney test were used. It was found that newlinethere are many differences between what people think and the actual reality of the newlinewomen journalists living in urban areas and rural areas. It was found that age, newlineeducation and gender have a vital role in defining the dissimilarities among the newlineperception and truth of female journalists. newlineThe study has also helped in finding out the strategies, policies and suggestions to newlineimprove the conditions of women journalists. newlineKeywords: Women, Journalist, Urban, Rural, Professional, Social, Economic newline